The day with dianne Louise

So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight, and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether at home or away, we make it out aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless. 2 Cor 5:6-10 How was the tent today? Paul previously refers to the body as a tent. Today my tent took a long time to feel alive but now it is well alive and it is time for bed. Had I sat around all day I doubt I would have managed to 'feel' good at all. This morning I determined that I would climb my hill, and I did, although muscles were screaming, but again, as every day, the summit is worth the climb. Whilst I live in this body I will rule how it feels, to the best of my ability. If I commit to an action, I must do it. Today I bought a new helmet an...

For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, since we are clothed, we will not be found naked. Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as down payment. 2 Cor 5:1-5 I am groaning, this morning. Yesterday I began running up my high hill, went swimming and mowed my long lawn which covers two hilly inclines. I can really appreciate my new body that will not slow down like this. Adam and Eve knew this body for the short while, until they sinned. This is why they hid and said to God that they were naked. They were naked before they sinned, naturally speaking, but when they sinned they were spiritually naked. Ima...

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18 Here are three pairs of opposites: outer person being destroyed, inner person renewed day by day; Momentary light afflictions, incomparable weight of glory; what is seen and what is unseen. The three I like are: the inner person, weight of glory; the unseen. These three speak of another world, speak of who we are and how we will live, as spiritual beings. I have experienced times of sensing all I needed to do was poke my nose forward and enter a whole, beautiful, new real where the greens were greener, the sun shone brighter, the air was lighter, and the place was full of joy. What a place!!! This is where the Spirit dwells, he...

We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life works in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written: 'I believed, therefore I spoke,' we also believe, and therefore speak. We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you. Indeed, everything is for your benefit, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to increase to increase to God's people. 2 Cor 8-15 Is this the gospel you try to avoid? As a Christian we called to a life of dying to self let alone any persecutions that may come. Our comfort is not our doona, our ...

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from ourselves. 2 Cor 4:7 One of my favourite bands is: Jars of Clay. I bet this is where their name came from. What does this scripture mean? I am merely a jar of clay, fragile, made from dirt, but beautiful in the eyes of the creator. Tonight I watched a programme on SBS Australia about Richard III of England. Apparently the man had a severe scoliosis of his spine. The presenters investigated how a man, like him, could ride a horse, clad in armour, and fight like he was reported to have fight. A young man called Dominic was his double. Dominic was very skinny but had severe scoliosis. Being a part of the programme did wonders for Dominic, he was growing before my eyes, a part of him was healing. Lord heal Him. Amen! Before I watched this programme I watched tail end of the 6pm church service at C3 Sydney. Pastor Phil Pringle was praying for healing for those with hip and then spinal injur...

For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. 2 Cor 4:5 I serve Christ as I serve you! You are important! Not more important but equally important. Jesus served His disciples. He did not proclaim He was greater than them but His brethren. Now we know, because of His sacrifice, He was greater. I have yet to lay down a life of glory to descend into the pits of humanity to heal the sick, restore the captives, die a cruel death, rise again and take a host of those waiting for that day, with me. I have a little work to do. However, I am called to lay down my life, daily, for others. I must forego my desires to be carnal, so that you might experience Christ. As I lay down my carnal appetites, and am crushed, the fragrance fills the air, you can experienc Christ. Amen! Yesterday I had my granddaughter to the movies, then over to play games, eat, watch another movie and bed. My natural inclination was lay down sooner but I had a g...

But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the God of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor 4:3,4 A miracle is required for a soul to see with spiritual eyes. I know, I was one. Ah! But the day I did see, what joy! Before this day I had ardently sought God, bought a bible and read it. It meant nothing until my eyes were opened. I attended bible studies and they felt good but I did not understand, until my Gkd called me. My prayer is that more will have ears to hear the call and heart to respond to the call. Amen! I watch the veiled faces, the deaf ears and pray for the miracle of openness. Amen!

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced  shameful, secret  things, not walking in deceit or distorting God's message, but commending ourselves to every persons conscience in Gods  sight by an open display of truth. 2. Cor 4:1,2 Because of the mercy shown to me, the pure grace and forgiveness, how can I give up? I am compelled to press on to a higher calling. In pressing on I must become transparent and free of deceit. Deceit lingers with selfishness and the exaltation of the God I. I must dethrone myself and raise Christ. Amen! 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:17,18 The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 The law of aerodynamics is greater than the law of gravity which has held all on the earth in confinement since the very beginning. But when man discovered the law of aerodynamics, they danced, they were free to go where their hearts longed to go, soaring through the skies. The Law of the Spirit is greater than the law of Moses and because of it we can have a relationship with our Father, once again, and dance in the rain, on the beaches, in the desert, on the mountains, in the valleys. The Spirit brings freedom from law, liberty to the captives. yes! It is as if God is standing behind us and we both fa...

Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters of stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites were not able to look directly at Moses' face because of the glory from his face- a fading glory- how will the ministry of the spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory. In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious now by comparison because of the glory that now surpasses it. For if what was fading away was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious. Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness. 2 Cor 3:7-12 Yesterday many attended church, for many the veil was still in place as they have not heard the gospel of life and received it with faith. Therefore, the veil remains over their minds and hearts. I myself attended church faithfully for 19 years before I had a God encounter, He gave me a revelation of Himself. Oh what a day that was! I found my dancing feet, my heart wa...

We have this kind of confidence toward God through Christ. It is not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence is from God. He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life. 2 Cor 3:4-6 The Old Testament was all about what we should so, the New is about what Christ can do through us. I am not competent because of what I am, but what Christ is in and through me. We try and make those in our world abide by our rules and then become upset when they fail. We are not God and even He knew we needed a Saviour and sent Jesus. There is only one Way and one source of life, Jesus Christ. Be kind, lighten up on others. They are just like you, in need of a Saviour. Amen!

Today is Christmas Day and so far it has been wonderful. Yet it all began last night. Last night I watched a storm across the valley, yes the clouds were rolling in, but at a very slow pace. They were dark and ominous and took three hours to actually cover my home and although there was lightning it was not fierce and the rain, when it came was gentle. On the night Christ was born a gentle saviour came to a love lost world that expected their Messiah to be a deliverer of a different sort. They thought He would be  a mighty deliverer, a warrior, yet they received a humble deliverer who came to save them from their sins. The trouble was they did not know their sin. We can be so wrong in our estimations and miss a glorious truth. A loving God sent His only Son to lead us back to Him. Today, all across the globe people will misunderstand one another because their expectations were ill founded. Don't let another day go by trying to insist God exists on your own terms. Why not ask Him Hi...

But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are the aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. 2 Cor 2:14-16 This analogy is to the triumphant return of victorious generals who took with them captives and treasures. Sweet smelling incenses were offered, therefore a sweet aroma went with them. We are God's captives and we are on our way to the city of God. We are on display. Today, I again wrapped Christmas presents as a fund raiser for Ronald McDonald House. A woman I worked alongside said to me, " I know you." We then went through a process as to how she knew me, it was church. The people who brought their presents to be wrapped each had needs in their lives. Many needed grace as they brought the biggest presents and offered ...

For everyone of God's promises is "Yes" in Him. Therefore the "Amen" is also spoken through Him by us for God's glory. Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us. He has also sealed us and given us the spirit as down payment in our hearts. 2 Cor 1:20-22 God is for us and not against us, every promise in His word, He is in to fulfil. He has said: "I will never leave you or forsake you." All that is Him works to fulfil this scripture. When things come against me, it is an attempt to crowd awareness of His presence out. But I can choose to put on the spiritual eyes and search Him out ignoring the circumstances. When His word says: 'no weapon formed against you shall prosper,' unless I feed that weapon with fear and a bad confession, it cannot take me out. When the words says: 'when the enemy comes in like a flood, I will raise a standard against it,' I can be confident in my God whilst knowing that the en...

For this is our confidence: the testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God's grace. 2 Cor 1:12 How good is it to be able to boast such a pure heart. I cannot say that I have never slipped into fleshly behaviour, yet Paul could. I am grateful, he compels me on. Flesh likes to boast, talk about itself. Spirit lifts others up and honours others as their betters. Today I was wrapping presents as a fund raiser for Ronald McDonald house, outside Big W (Woolworths) and standing alongside me, keeping up, as an 81 year old woman. I was so impressed! What an honour, what a delight! I was reminded not to complain about how tired I felt, as we were busy, or how my feet felt. This woman did not complain and she did her job well. I praise God for His strength, His grace and His gift. I enjoyed going the extra mile for those who would never have been able or who neve...

Praise the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, as through Christ our comfort also overflows. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you also share in the comfort. For we don't want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: we were completely overwhelmed- beyond our strength- so that we even despaired of life. Indeed, we had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a terri...

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. Your every action must be done with love. 1 Co 16:13 Itn't it funny that a man's man, such as Paul, tells the readers to be men and be firm, be strong then tells them a female directive: your every action must be done with love. A woman would get this, a man, no! Sorry guys! Let's face it, when you are in strong mode, love does not compute. You are ready to rip off limbs, scale walls, win the war. This must a hard directive to grasp. As a woman I struggle with it. I saw, recently, on Facebook, a photo of a soldier who was cradling a child asleep, and he himself was asleep. The story was that this child had been so traumatised that it struggled to sleep and the soldier, who had found the child was the child's connection. However, we are told to love our enemies. Yesterday at church, I heard a real life drama of a woman who was out, in Australia, playing lawn bowls and witnessed a gunman chasing a man and shoot...

Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. 1Cor 15:58 Today we have more people who are 'done' with church. Apparently these are they would have given their best and burnt out. What causes this? Disillusionment? Wrong believing? The inner group in any church are in everything, they are the first to put their hands up, the first to give. Yet are they being wise? I have been such a person and had to extricate myself for a while as I processed the grief of divorce, yet the giver in me constantly wanted in. Had I kept going I would not have survived as the stress of starting a business by myself and coping with grief that was crushing, only this past year did I have the freedom to again become involved. As I analyse my own self I know It felt good to be in boots and all. Was I co-dependant? Or did I need to sort out my own life and then serve out of wholeness? Yes! But in the mi...

Listen? I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, In a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, And we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, And this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When the corruptible is clothed With incorruptibility, And this mortal is clothed with immortality, Then the saying that is written must take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death where is your victory? Death where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Chris! 1 Cor 15:51-57 Isaiah wrote the verse: death has been swallowed up in victory. He looked down through time and foretold the day when death's power would be no more in Is 25:8. There is a group of people who will experience the second coming and will not ...

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: the first Adam became a living being, the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth and made of dust; The second man is from heaven. Like the man made of dust, so are those who are made of dust; Like the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, We will also bear the image of the heavenly man. 1 Cor 15:44-49 We would all agree we have a body, we may not all agree we have a spirit. The spirit is the life in us. This is the part that, for a Christian, becomes born again. Our spirit is infilled by the Holy Spirit. This is only possible because of Christ's death and resurrection. He Himself said that He must go so that He could send the Holy Spirit. I have a natural body that has cravings and a spiritual body that desires the things of God. If I li...

Someone will say, "How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?" Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow-you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. But God gives it a body as He wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. Not all flesh is the same flesh, there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. There is a splendour of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for one star differs from another star in splendour. So it is with the resurrection of the dead:  Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; Sown in dishonour, raised in glory; Sown in weakness, raised in power; Sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. 1 Cor 15:35-44 Just as a farmer sows his seed and ex...

For God has put everything under His feet. But when it says 'everything' is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him (Christ) is the exception. And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise what will they do who are baptising for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? 1 Cor 15:27-29 Paul is teaching the Corinthians that God exalted Christ and gave Him rulership over all things, except Himself. He then launches into a concept that we do not practice or endorse, and neither did he, the baptising for the dead. The Corinthians had collected a raft of false doctrines and this was one, which Paul uses in his argument with them about the resurrection from the dead. He was saying: why do you bother with this practice you have adopted if there is no resurrection, it does not make sense. Not a lot...

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through one man, the resurrection from the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order. Christ, the firstfruits; afterwards, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and authority and power. For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. The ,axt enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under His feet. 1 Cor 15:20-27 Now let us be mindful we have been given a kingdom, which we are responsible for, in which all our enemies must be put under our feet, and one will we give an account for at the end of our days. Do we see ourselves as rulers, kings and priest, which we are, or victims of this cruel world. I read something interesting today: without a vision...

For I am least of the apostles, unworthy to be called a apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by God's grace I am what I am, and His grace towards me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God's grace that was with me. Therefore, whether it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed. 1 Cor 15:9-11 Isn't it amazing how our perspective about the effect we will have is so contained by our own judgement of our own past performance. Yet Paul is not remembered for the things he remembers, the persecution of the church, and yes that was horrible, but we treasure all his writings. Perhaps the persecution was still tainting the then world, as we see today, it takes time for people who have been abused and mistreated to heal, some never do. We have the benefit of living thousands of years later, that is a long time later. Paul goes on the talk about the 'grace' that was upon him. Each of us have a 'grace'...

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, That He was buried, That He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, That He appeared to Cephas, Then to the twelve, then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time, Most of them still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, Then to all the apostles, Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me. 1 Cor 15:3-8 Paul was needing to give a lesson on fact. Some heresy had begun that denied the resurrection from the dead of Christ. It never ceases to amaze me how arm chair critics can size up a situation and judge it from their unholy platform and choose to deny the fact in favour of their carnal estimation. We recently had a terrifying occurrence in Sydney were a crazed Iranian held up a coffee shop and ended up killing two people before he himself was killed. Yet social media was full...

 Since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the. Hur he's, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only.  1 Cor 14:33-36 As Paul had elsewhere talked about women prophesying with their heads covered I am sure he is not now contradicting himself but addressing an issue of riotous behaviour, the women were perhaps babbling on when it was inappropriate to do so. What we must remember is this letter was written to a specific church addressing specific issues. It, therefore, would be unwise for us to create doctrines about women in church based on this letter, but rather see it as a letter giving guidance about behaviour in church. Reading this letter for the f...

What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. all things must be done for edification. If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. but if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. two or three prophets should speak, and others should evaluate. 1Cor 14;26-29   This is body ministry. This is what I remember. Unfortunately, in church, we have sophisticated to being entertained and not involved in the ministry. I can imagine that in large churches this would be impractical and therefore cell groups or bible study groups began where body ministry was to continue. I have this past year been involved in a 'Book Club'. we studied books written by good Christian authors but we also spent time in worship, prayer and ministry. We...

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. For the person who speaks in another language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. 1 Cor 14:1-4 Both of these gifts have almost disappeared from the church, not because they have been withdrawn, but because they are not used. In my own personal walk I have to consciously pray in the Spirit, but in worship at church I tend to sing in the Spirit at times. Not so loud that the whole church must listen, but for my own personal edification. At home I must choose to sing in the Spirit or pray. When I interceed I pray in the Spirit. I think the times I willfully choose to pray in the Spirit I have the breakthroughs I need. There are times we just ne...

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a (Wo) man, I put aside childish things. For now we see  indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now there three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:11-13 As a child grows so does their understanding. As I grow in Christ, spend time in His presence and read His word, I mature spiritually. Yet there are still thigs I will not know until I see Him, face to face. Ah! What a day that will be, lots of hugs please! A walk in a lovely forest and talking, fellowshipping, laughing, eating together. I will know so much just by being with Him. Awesome! The Corinthian Christians proclaimed wisdom but were behaving like foolish children. Paul was teaching them true wisdom. I pray they had hearts open to truth and a willingness to receive. Faith, hope and love remain after all ...

Love never ends. But as for prophesies, they will come to an end; As for languages, they will cease; As for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, And we prophesy in part. But when the perfect comes, The partial will come to an end. 1 Cor 13:8-10 Love is tied up with who God is. Love is! Love has always been there, evil hasn't. Love will outlive evil, overcome it. Love is greater, more powerful, mightier, More gracious, giving and whole. Love is our goal, not what I can do without it. Love enables good to be born, Love feeds the hungry, Love forgives the sinner. Love serves others, not itself. Love is patient, it enables us to wait. Love is kind, overlooking the wrong. Love is generous, giving its best, the very best. Amen! Everything else puffs up the individual, love doesn't, it is humble. Amen! Today, in Australia, we see an end to a siege and the loss of three lives. We are not a country given to such things and therefore we are shocked and in grief. I pray...

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, Does not act improperly,  Is not selfish, is not provoked, And does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor 13:4-7 How do you stack up? Na! Neither do I. Perhaps that is why we need to walk in the Spirit, because He has it down pat. The scripture tells me: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Note: through Christ. Don't forget that bit. Why must it be 'through Christ?' So He gets the glory. Because He can handle praise and I can't. He does not suffer with arrogance and pride. These are a part of the sin nature, He doesn't have one of those. Imagine being pure and without sin. I know, it is hard to imagine. Even on our best days we fail to reach the mark. I saw a funny clip posted on Facebook today. The clip starts with African ...

If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, And if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, And if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor 13:1-3 Genuine love  cares for others and this motivates our seeking the Holy Spirit for His gifts. If I go to church to promote myself I am an empty vessel. My mum used to tell me, as a child, that empty vessels make the most noise. Lives empty of love and full or self-promotion and noise about ourselves is a waste of time. Again and agin we are drawn back to Christ, who though He was God, did not seek equality with God but humbled Himself as a servant. My Lord's example is there in the gospels for me to follow. Jesus did nothing of self, He lay it all down for us. His life was a living...

Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church: First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret? But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way. 1 Cor 12:27-31 Isn't it interesting that apostles come before workers of miracles, yet we log for these. However, without the apostles, prophets and teachers there would be no body of people to carry the miraculous. An apostle goes before and breaks up the ground, establishes something new. They are pioneers, entrepreneurs. They begin things. Next the prophets give vision and direction and encouragement. Thirdly the teacher, stable in all his ways, builds the people, strengths them, consilidates them. Now the miraculous will func...

For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body- so also is Christ. For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body- whether Jew or Greeks, whether slave or free- and we're all made to drink of one Spirit. So the body is not one part but many. 1 Cor 12:12-14 How beautiful! We are in good hands. The Holy Spirit was involved in creation, isn't He able to bring into the body of Christ all that is needed? Paul goes on to say not one single part is more exclusive than the others. The body needs even the unseen internal organs to live. Food needs the smelly gut to extract the nutrients so that the eyes might shine all the brighter, the arms and legs function well, that calcium strengthen the bones that are covered by skin and support the stability of the whole body. As a student of anatomy and physiology, a fascinating subject, I know how important all parts are, love them and appreciate them. Imagine being without the adrenal...

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: To one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, To another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, To another, faith by the same Spirit, To another, the gifts of healing by the one Spirit, To another, the performing of miracles, To another prophesy,  To another, distinguishing between spirits,  To another, different kinds of languages, To another interpretation of languages. But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills. 1 Cor 12:4-11 The Holy Spirit has much to give, and I am sure that this list is not exhaustive. I cannot limit my God, He is beyond any box I would prepare for Him. My God created the vast universe, yet now we only inhabit a very s...

Now concerning what comes from the Spirit: brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak. Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:1-3 Paul's teaching is coming into a culture that has no prior reference to God, they were pagans, they had no Godly restraints, they lived without boundaries in the lusts of the flesh. Paul is introducing Godly boundaries. Thus far he has dealt with sexual sin, unrighteous behaviour in settling disputes, factions, eating meat dedicated to idols, wrongly celebrating communion. I can just imagine how scattered these new believers were in relationship to godly truth. Into their world comes the reality of Christ and now they are learning what having  Christ in their lives means. The Corinthians are experiencing the Spirit ...

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will  be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognising the body, eats and drinks judgement on himself. This is why many are sick and I'll among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we properly evaluate ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned by the Lord. 1 Cor 11:27-32 This scripture shows us that we cannot just rock up to church and take communion without respect for Christ who we remember and respect for our brothers and sisters who we do church with. True love appreciates all that Jesus has done, true love for each other is forgiving, generous, gracious and thoughtful. To rush through communion, because we must get it done, misses the mark. If we struggle with sickness then ...

For I received from the Lord what I also pass on to you. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembers de of Me." In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant established in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in rememberance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. 1 Cor 11:23-26 In the previous verses Paul was admonishing the Corinthians for their fleshly behaviour around communion. He brings them to the simple, pure truth that communion entails: Christ's sacrifice and the symbolic act of communion. As I read this, after wading through Paul's correction of the Corinthian's behaviour, I am so grateful for the peace and grace these scriptures represent. Paul points to a time when Jesus teaches His disciples how to remem...

Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of all ages have come. So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape. So that you are able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:1-5;11-13 The Corinthians were tempting God with licentious behaviour. Paul was warning them that there were consequences for what they were doing....

Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away. Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Cor 9:25-27 I have just been through another fire and found that I still squark like a chicken being hunted for the kill. Oh dear! My mother's post surgery experience was not good and being the eldest and an ex-nurse I was left to take charge. My mum developed a urinary tract infection and her bowel was quite disturbed, to say the least, lack of awareness of diabetes and lack of food by hospital staff and the list goes on. I ended up giving mum the personal care I would wish for her and monitored the nursing in the...

Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink its milk? Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn't the law also say the same thing? For it is written in the law of Moses: 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. Is God really concerned with oxen? Or isn't He really saying it for us? Yes, this is written for us, because he who plows ought to plough in hope, and he who shepherds should do so in hope of sharing the crop. 1 Cor 9:7-10 Having been a shepherd and done much as Paul did, keep himself, I can appreciate the right to be paid by a congregation. I think many pastors work in some capacity so that they do not burden their congregation. Even pastors of large congregations write books and take speaking engagements to supplement. Ministers are often the greatest givers as well, returning to the church what they are paid, or most of it. This does not dimish the fac...

About food offered to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows something, he doesn't know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone knows God, then he is known by Him. 1 Cor 8:1-3 Whenever we we approach relationships with what we know, or think we know and love is absent, we are puffed up, noisy gongs and clanging cymbals. However, if we approach relationships with a genuine love and interest in the other person, then we are known by God. Isn't it interesting that we read in the gospels in the words of Jesus: "Depart from Me for I never knew you." This was His response to those who claim to have done great things in His name, but had failed to be known. We are known when we love. Yay! When puffed up people try to approach me in this way I laugh and challenge them. I can be confronting. Last night when the puffed up businessman said we should work together he thought I would be flattered. I ...

I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man, is concerned about the things of the Lord- how he may please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the things of the world- how he may please his wife-and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world- how she may please her husband. Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor 7:32-35 This is taken from a whole teaching in chapter seven of remaining single because of distress in the nations ie possible persecution. Paul was of the opinion that the Lord was coming soon. Also the church had written for clarification. There was a mistaken belief that it was asthetically pleasing to refrain from sex within marriage. Paul was trying, a...

Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called by the Lord as a free man is Christ's slave. 1 Cor 7:20-22 When becoming a Christian we can desire many things to change, some will, some won't. We can distress ourselves greatly by putting our desires above the Lord's and being content in what ever state we find ourselves in. Christmas is coming. Ideals and movies that create ideals are rampant, yet what is important?  Love mercy and justice and walk humbly with your God. When we put our natural (carnal) desires for Christmas to be a magical something it is not, we do others great harm. Carnal expectations are forced upon others and they do not have the capacity to give peace. There is only one peace-giver. Tonight I was at a Chr...

I (Paul) command the married- not I, but the Lord- a wife is not to leave her husband. But if she does leave, she must remain single or be reconciled to her husband- and a husband is not to leave his wife. But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now are set apart for God. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or sister is not bound in such cases. We seek easy answers to difficult situations in marriage and the desire to leave one's spouse is the solution. Paul is reminding us that to leave your spouse for a reason apart from infidelity, and although he does not mention it-infidelity- this is...

Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "it is good for a man not to have relations with a woman. But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. A husband should fulfillment his marital responsibility to his wife and a wife to her husband. I say to the unmarried  and the widows: it is good for them they remain as I am. But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry that to burn with desire." 1 Cor 7:1-3;8,9 Some people are just good at being single, yet many want to be married. As a divorcee I experienced a long time of longing for a husband. I do not long any more, now that I am whole and free from my past. Yet I understand the desire to marry. I wonder if whole people desire marriage less or if they still desire marriage, should the right person become available? Marriage is a good place for two people who are in the right place themselves, before they ent...

If any of you have a legal dispute against another, do you dare go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or don't you know the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? Don't you know that we will judge Angels- not to mention ordinary matters? So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those who have no standing in the church to judge? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between his brothers? Instead, believer goes to court against believer, and before unbelievers! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:1-6;11b Paul was raised and indoctrinated in a culture that settled its own disputes. In the day of Christ, even though the Romans ruled, they did not become involved unless there was a breaking of their law, t...

I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don't you judge those who are inside? But God judges outsiders. Put away the evil person from among yourselves. 1Cor 5:9-13 I did some reading on the Internet about sexual impurity in the church and found it to be a serious problem. I found a good site written by a counsellor whose life work is in restoring sexual purity. He said that impurity can co-incide with theological understanding and belief because it comes from deception in the heart. A mistaken self-interst that justifies the sin. We are deceived when we thi...

It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles- a man is living with his father's wife. You are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. 1 Cor 5:1,2 Run from sexual immorality! Every sin a person can commit is outside the body. On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Don't you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Cor 6:18-20 Paul now gets to the heart of the matter. Up to this point he has dealt with the reason such behaviour could exist: fleshly attitudes and conduct. Now he starts to deal with sin in the midst of the congregation. When we begin to walk in the flesh, all manner of evil waits to snare us. If we ...

For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 1 Cor 4:1,15 Many do not know a father in Christ, perhaps because they have not experienced such a person and therefore assume all are teachers. A father takes keen interest, showers love and lives and breathes for them. Those of us who have been parents need only remember the times when our children were little. How we were smitten by them, loved them and doted on them. Compared to how we were disposed to the children next door or in our street. I remember not having much patience with others children, until I had my own. Our Heavenly Father has a Son, He qualifies for parenthood. A Father in Christ has such a heart. He is not just a preacher, or a teacher, but goes the extra mile for his flock. Paul was saying he was such a man, compared to those who were causing trouble for the flock by teaching doctrine ...

Now, brothers, I have applied these things (4:1-5) to myself and to Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from the saying: 'Nothing beyond what is written.' The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favour of one person over another. For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? If, in fact, if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you haven't received it?you are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us- and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! 1Cor 4:6-8 Paul is having a go at the Corinthians so that they can see their foolishness. Paul, an apostle says of himself in verse 12: 'even now we are like the world's garbage, like dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals.' Now today, Paul and Peter  are heroes of faith but then Paul knew the struggle he went through to preach the gospel. We may feel very insignificant in our work but God has a p...

A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful. It is of little importance to me that I should be evaluated by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even evaluate myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. Therefore, don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come back to each one from God. 1 Cor 4:1-5 Wow! I am a manager of God's mysteries, Selah! What a thought! How awesome is the priveledge and what a great and treasured responsibility! How good not to be conscious of anything against ones self but to be able to completely trust the Lord to judge fairly. I have been learning to do this for others and now I should exte...

No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise are meaningless. So no one should boast in Human leaders, for everything is yours- whether Paul or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come- everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Chrust belongs to God. 1 Cor 3:18-23 In our insecurity we cling to things, to names, to clubs, to churches, to people. However, we have no need of clinging as we have been set free and we have all we need in Christ. Nothing can separate us from Him; we are His and He is ours. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for His good pleasure, for relationship with Him. Let us not stop short by clinging to worldly people and titles. People may love or hate us, they are ...

Don't you yourselves know that you are God's sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God's sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God's sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are. 1 Cor: 3:16,17 In the media only this week is another centre of child abuse, a religion secreted away in the bush. Children were being raised to be used sexually and as slaves. Tonight on the news I saw how a young girl was on a plane to the Middle East. There were concerns that she was a child bride and now in Australia this is being dealt with by authorities. Child brides exist in Middle Eastern cultures that choose to make Australia home, however here this practice is against the law and now is being clamped down upon. God is our creator, we were made to have Him abide inside our spirits. We were not created to be used by others for their own pleasure, we were made for God's pleasure and that definitely does not include abuse but rather freedom. This scriptu...

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives growth. Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each one receives his own reward according to his own labour. For we are God's coworkers. You are God's field and God's building. According to God's grace given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Chrsit. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become obvious, for will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved, yet it will be an escape ...